Mini Adventures, Magic, and one Mabsoot

I had pitched my tent on the other side of the mountain the night before in the hope to catch some Northern Lights after cycling the glorious road down from Egilsstaðir.

It was weak, but still there.

This is a one way road.

I loved the little shop on top of the hill. The smallest shop in Iceland I’m sure,

inside you find a vending machine.

My idea was to camp a night and cycle back the next day.

But when I woke up to a glorious sunshiny day I decided to ride up and over that big hill,to see what’s on the other side.

And that changed everything.

Borgarfjörður eystri is one of them places…

A small town, 130 inhabitants, at the end of road nr. 94.

It has a few sights, like Álfaborg,

According to the folktales it’s home of the ‘huldufólk‘ (hidden people). This folk, or ‘elves’ as you could call them is said to live in rocks and hills throughout the country.
Álfaborg is home of Borghildur, the elf queen of Iceland.

Depending on who you ask it’s all one big cliché or you better watch your step not to anger the elves.

In the town church you find the altar piece, painted in 1914 by Johannes Kjarval, one of Iceland’s most popular painters who grew up in the village. He’s depicted the sermon on Álfaborg.

In 2007 a survey showed that 62% out of 1000 Icelanders don’t rule out the possibility of elves existing.